A Trial of Blood and Brain

[Aeralyss Detymerande]

The man stepped out from the shadow of the alley in the Coruscanti slums. He was clad fully in black; on his feet were black leatheris boots, matching leatheris pants, a black cloth top with a hood, and a black cloak hanging from his left shoulder. On his left hip was a short vibrosword, and on his right hip was a small blaster pistol. His face was covered by a cloth and the hood from his top, faint blue eyes barely visible from under the hood's shadow. He tread softly through the crowded street of the Coruscant underworld, blending as best as he could into the crowd, those blue eyes scanning the groups of people. They finally settled on a small group of people, two Twi'leks and a Devaronian. They all seemed out of touch, the man was guessing they were on spice of some kind, maybe glitterstim. He dropped into 'character' and stumbled over to the group like he were high on glitterstim as well. The man pulled his hood back, and the cloth down, revealing a rather attractive, humanoid face, albeit with a rather large nose and slightly grayed skin. His eyes were a much brighter blue out of the shadow of the hood, almost the color of sapphires, and he had short, straight, white hair, styled backwards. There was a small scar under his left eye, along his cheekbone, and two small slits on the side of his nose, barely noticeable, especially to these glitzed-up aliens. He put his arm around one of the Twi'leks, a Rutian female, and the Devaronian male. He offered a toothy smile to the trio, laughing softly, speaking his words in Galactic Basic, "Hey there! You three look like you're having as much, maybe more fun than me! Friends call me Aera, so that's what y'all can call me too, yeah? What's your poison tonight?"

The Rutian Twi'lek responded to Aera in accented Basic, "Aera! That's such a pretty name, oh..." She swayed her head slowly, lekku twitching and squirming ever so slightly. She giggled, leaning over to whisper into Aera's ear, though she still spoke in a voice at normal volume, "We're on Glitter tonight, you got any, gorgeous?"

Aera smirked, despite the faint wince he gave off at the near shouting directly in his ear, "Oh, sweetheart, I have all the spice you'll need for the rest of your life. Think you can break away from your friends to come get it from my speeder with me?"

The Twi'lek looked at her two friends, who were currently fading in and out of consciousness, and nodded. Aera released his grip on the Devaronian's shoulder and started guiding the Twi'lek woman away from the group, towards the alleyway he came from. The other two didn't even seem to notice the absence of their friend. Aera spoke to the Twi'lek along the way in her native language, Ryl, asking her questions to be polite, "Cei, vilahur, qa ohk dei goh?" ("So, darling, what's your name?" )
"Irella, kay fonol huhsi dos san Ella." ("Irella, but people just call me Ella.")
"Ella? cea ohk a la'ak goh cla, ootay ohk dan or? Rd'ok?" ("Ella? That's a pretty name too, where are you from? Ryloth?")
"Ka, Do ubesi ar dec kue Rd'ok. Sei zen'ka ohk vassij'ra, Do ohk vrei Do beyao. Do dao onhso circaa ar tao vil onelan a goc dec." ("Yes, I used to live on Ryloth. My family was enslaved, I was lucky I guess. I came out here to try and start a new life.")

The irony made Aera almost laugh aloud, if only she knew what the immediate future held for her. They reached the alley and Aera swiftly moved so Ella was trapped in the alley. He forced eye contact with her and her mouth dropped agape slightly, as if she were in a daze. Aera reached his hand around to hold the back of her neck, grinning sadistically as he stared into her eyes. Two small tendrils began to snake out from those little slits on his nose, writhing and wriggling until they reached almost a foot and a half in length. He tightened his grip on the back of the Twi'lek's neck, and shot his other hand up to grab a tight hold of her face, keeping her head from moving. The tendrils slithered towards Ella's face tentatively. In a flash, they rocketed up her nostrils, and she yelped, trying desperately to break free from the man's hold, but he was able to keep her firmly in place. Her eyes slowly rolled back as Aera drained the soup from her, quickly and efficiently. After a short few minutes the tendrils receded from the woman's nostrils, coated in blood and mucus, and retreated back into the slits on Aera's face. He released the girl, who crumpled lifeless to the ground, shocked and dazed expression along her face.

Aera sighed heavily, cracking his neck before flicking his hood back up and pulling the cloth to cover the majority of his face. With this, he looked down at the Twi'lek, waving his hand down at the corpse. The Force flowed through him, but only slightly, and with it, he flicked one of the woman's leki. A hollow chuckle escaped him as he looked back up, now ready to venture back out into the underworld slums.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus had never been on Coruscant, as long as his stay was short he should be able to leave without incident. His Master Lord Blood had been tending to matters of their order. His lightsaber clipped to his side wearing a black cloak with the hood covering his features. He did not like all this sneaking around it was not his style it was not his mode of operation. “This might be another test” he thought to himself. In this world of countless trillions the dark side was here as well. He smiled inwardly at this knowledge. He had felt a subtle pang in the force one that warranted investigation. He had originally came here for some supplies. The Force it seemed to have other machinations for the Sith Warrior.

He had found his way into the under city, it was not difficult, this was where the vermin of the galaxy dwelled. Struggling to make it to the next day, kill or be killed. Its populace was filled with desperate beings; he could feel it in the Force. Desperation was thick here. Walking through the underworld had felt like walking through a rancid sewer. His steps echoed as he walked most stayed away from him. He was a distance away when he saw a group of people aliens mostly he surmised. He watched the events unfold from a distance this one person he could feel was the source of what he had sensed. It had been so long since he had come across someone who had potential to join his order. When the individual began to walk away , Warvanus stepped from the shadows as to bar the man’s path. When he was in earshot he spoke.

“That was a very impressive kill” he said plainly. He liked one who had no remorse or conflict when claiming the life of another. Most of the recruits that passed through their halls had something pure in them and it revolted him, this one though with time and training could be a force to be reckoned with. Was this being strong enough and worthy enough to become a sith?

[Aeralyss Detymerande]

Aera stopped his gait abruptly, staring down the cloaked man from under his own hood. He instinctively rested his hand on his vibrosword for a moment, his eyes flickering down to the saber attached to the stranger's hip. With a sigh of resignation and an eye roll, he drew the vibrosword and let it dangle loosely in his hand. He tapped his left food rapidly on the durasteel ground of the alleyway, lips pursed tightly under his cloth mask. The man stared for a long moment before responding in a faint Imperial accent, speaking Galactic Basic, "It's easy to make a clean kill when you're target's glitzed out of their mind."

Aera motioned to the saber on the stranger's hip with the tip of his own vibrosword, his head cocking slightly to the left, "You want impressive, you should see what I've done to some of your young Jedi friends. Little Padawans, or whatever they're called, but still fun enough, and *oh* so delicious." He took a single step forward, pulling his cloth mask down to reveal a snarl across his face, "You should get out of my way, most prey are wary around their predators."

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus stood like a immovable statue. He made no indication that he was going to move or even let the stranger by. He was the higher being on the food chain here. The stranger had gestured to his weapon and nothing in Warvanus changed. He watched and studied the stranger, his race was something Warvanus was not familiar with, he was a brute force to be reckoned with but he was also a scholar, especially in the matters of the Darkside and the history of his order. Mind and Body razor sharp was often taught in the Martial Arts especially Tera Kasi. Those that were near them had stopped minding their own affairs and now looked on as what looked like a showdown. Only neither had a blaster and it was not a quickdraw.

His expression did not change even when he had mistaken the Sith warrior for a Jedi. He did not confirm it, nor did he deny being a Jedi. He had no love of them, this was good, neither did he. They were the sworn enemy of his order. He kept his positioned and remained where he stood, he would not move as he revealed his face and the snarl. It came off to Warvanus as being feral. If he felt anything it was amusement. After a long moment Warvanus drew back the hood concealing his face. The stranger would see radioactive yellow eyes staring back at him and it was a moment longer before he spoke. He summoned the Force, extending his senses to the stranger, peering into this being who dared to forfeit his life in challenging the Bringer or War. There it was he thought, He could feel the Force in the stranger. *Sense Force User*

“That is good advice, you would do well to heed your own advice”

He still did not move, nor did he draw his lightsaber. He did draw upon the Darkside allowing it to provide a mental barrier *Force Shield* He was ready, and as he waited he wondered to himself. Should he have his fun or should he shed the mortal coil of this would be stranger. If he went to slaughter then he would learn nothing. No he would see how this plays out as he often said “You don’t truly know someone until you fight them” it was a old proverb but it rang truth and relevance even today.

[Aeralyss Detymerande]

Aerathos glared for a moment, his eyes filled with fiery hate and malice, until... he smiled, slowly putting his vibrosword back on his hip. He stood, staring at the man, with a posture of arrogance and a grin on his smug face. His hands spread innocently and nonthreatening and he took a single step closer to the man. After a few moments of silence, he chose to speak, slowly and condescendingly,
"A Jedi would not strike down an unarmed opponent, would they? I haven't ever seen one do so. Your religion is weak, pathetic, and docile. Let me pass, Jedi, and go back to your temple in the upper city. Kriff off."

He took another step closer to Warvanus, standing only a few inches from him, forcing eye contact again.

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus studied the being in front of him, he did not move, nor did his demeanor change. He was up to something. This much
Was certain. As he stepped closer to the Sith Warrior he finally spoke.

“No” he began speaking slowly and deliberately “A Jedi would not strike an unarmed person” he paused and for the first time his face showed an emotion, It was almost like a cruel amusement. “However” he continued “I am no Jedi” the last word he spoke with such venom and hate that to even say the word of his enemy was abhorrent and offensive to him. Then the stranger went on to describe the Jedi way the smile remained “In this” he Continued in that slow and deliberate manner. “We are in agreement”

He drew upon the Dark side of the Force pouring his anger and hate into it. A gift for his mistress, the Force flowed through him as he reached out with his feelings his mental shield fully intact. Only his Master had the power to get past it. As he stretched out he could feel the presence of the being who stood before him and then with a slight gesture of his index finger and thumb he brought them slightly close together with the intent of choking the being in front of him. *Force Choke* He applied some pressure as to get his message across. Enough to remove that arrogance about him, if he were to bring the index finger and thumb closer together the pressure would increase.

“Now” he said his demeanor changing “Why should I let you live” His radioactive yellow Iris looking at the choking man in front of him. The marking of a true Sith. He could feel the Force in him, along with his hatred of the Jedi he could make a valuable asset , but first he would have to show he was worthy. If he failed to do so then Warvanus would snap his neck and be done with it without a second thought. If he did prove himself worthy then he would present him to his Master and chances are this being's life would be forever altered.

[Aeralyss Detymerande]

Aerathos clenched his jaw as he felt the constricting pressure tightening around his neck, trying with all of his might not to show he was desperately struggling to breathe. He reached up with his right hand, massaging his throat as words faintly croaked out,
"Not a Jedi..."

His eyes rolled back slightly, the slits on the side of his nose pulsating with frantic energy. His left hand rockets outward in an attempt to catch the man unawares and hopefully break his concentration. A chill passed through the air, what he only assumed could be the other man's waves of Force energy surrounding them, or the lack of air to his brain possibly starting to bring a drowsiness about him. The tendrils began snaking out of the slits beneath his nose, flailing and writhing as words hissed from his lips,
"Let. Me. Go. And. I'll. Tell. You. Why."

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus watched of course his *Danger Sense* prickled as he tried to lash out to catch him off guard. Only he was not only
Trained in the use of the Force but also in Martial Arts and deflected the blow with ease while still holding on to his concentration.
He was fighting it, Good he thought to himself. Like so many he watched as he clenched reaching for hands that were not there. But what
Impressed the Sith warrior was the fact he was trying to come off as he was not struggling to breathe. He watched and studied the man
As he fought for air, he could feel the struggle. Seeming to be satisfied he turn his took three steps back from him, He was no fool afterall. He released the hold on his throat. Then he spoke

“Tell me Why I should allow you to live” This right here would be where things would be decided. Would Warvanus slaughter this man? Or would he elevate him and show him the path to power.

[Aeralyss Detymerande]

The man gasps softly, staying silent for a few moments as he regained his breath. Once his composure was regained he stood tall, sapphire eyes narrowing at the Sith man. He folded his arms defiantly across his chest, studying his form and physique closely, like a predator sizing up his prey. He took a single step back, hoping the shadow of the alleyway would help cloak him slightly, and mask the fear he'd been attempting to keep off his face,
"What do you want, False-Jedi, for me to beg for my life? Do you want me to plead? I hear enough cries for mercy, I don't intend on giving you the satisfaction I get when I hear a cry or bargain. No, I will not tell you why you should keep me alive, because my words would do nothing to convince you anyway."

[Kell Sangros]

Warvanus could feel the man’s fear, it was like a stench in the air but he also could feel his defiance, his strong will
His refusal to plead for his life. This pleased the Sith Warrior. He took a step closer he looked at the man in the eye
And spoke

“The Force is with you” he began but he paused to let the words sink in. It was a common saying but for beings who walked in the currents of the Force it took an entirely different meaning “The Dark Side is a gateway to many abilities, With it you can do what many would say are impossible feats” he studied him. “You are right, if you had pleaded for mercy or begged for your life I would have killed you without a single thought, but instead you showed defiance, and more importantly you showed your strong will and it is these things that make you worthy” He would need tempering, which would come with training if he survived training that is, but Oh what a powerful Sith he could become.He studied his reaction before continuing “Come with me, join your destiny to the order of the Sith Lords and you will be shown the path to true power”

He would have to swear fealty to his master Lord Blood, but he had potential, his destiny now rested on his next move, would he accept his offer and be elevated to a new level of existence, or would he cower and die the choice was his.